The Kelowna Rockets have signed defenseman Dane Sorensen to a WHL contract.

Earlier this offseason, the Rockets acquired Sorensen’s rights from the Victoria Royals.

The Los Angeles native spent the 2025-26 season split between the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede and BCHL’s Brooks Bandits.

“Dane is the type of defenceman that makes your team harder to play against,” said Kelowna president and GM Bruce Hamilton. “He’s physical, he competes every shift, and he has a high hockey IQ in his own end. The experience he has from winning championships in back-to-back seasons tells you about the competitor he is.

“We are excited to get him to Kelowna.”

In Sioux Falls, Sorensen established himself as a physical presence, posting 91 penalty minutes in 41 games. After moving to Brooks, he recorded a goal and eight assists for nine points in 12 regular-season games before taking his play to another level in the postseason. Sorensen added a goal and four assists for five points and 32 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games, averaging close to 19 minutes a night during the Bandits’ championship-clinching final series against the Nanaimo Clippers, helping Brooks claim the 2025-26 BCHL title.

The season prior, Sorensen won a USA Hockey 18U Tier I national championship with the Shattuck-St. Mary’s 18U Prep team, giving him back-to-back championship seasons entering his WHL career.

Back in California, Sorensen played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

Photo/Brooks Bandits

— WHL Staff

(July 2, 2026)